News|Schools


Inspectors share head’s vision for school ethos


AN Ofsted inspector has de- scribed how pupils at a Christian school


in Malling settle in


quickly, behave well and enjoy their time in class. The positive report comes from


government inspector Rosemary Addison,who visitedWestMalling CE Primary School in November. She noted that since Matthew


Clark became head in 2015, he has built good working relationships with staff and governors and a shared vision for the school. Commenting, Mrs Addison told


him: “Staff enjoy working at the school and are proud to be part of an effective team. Collectively, you have the confidence of parents, car- ers and the wider community to lead the school forward.” Grading the 220-place school in


Norman Road as “good”, she noted that since the last inspection in 2013, strengths identified including a strong sense of teamwork and shared goals, the quality of teach- ing, resulting in pupils’ good rates of progress, and pupils’ good atti- tudes and behaviour, had all been maintained. In addition, she applauded the


use of reward stickers to improve attendance among disadvantaged pupils and, in some cases, by col- lecting themfromhome. Initiatives to improvemaths and English and accelerate the progress of the most able pupils were also welcomed.


Young pupils atWestMalling CE Primary School are well behaved andmak- ing good rates of progress, according to the school’s lastest Ofsted report


However, she recognised that these changes had only taken place re- cently and there was still more to be done. Responding to the report, Mr


Clark said teachers were delighted with the findings, adding: “Our lat- est Ofsted outcome shows that, as a school, we are making strong progress towards our goal of being an excellent school where every child can maximise their potential. This is only achieved through the hard work and commitment of a


great team of staff and governors who work with parents to chal- lenge and support each individual child.” As a church school – and part of


the multi-academy trust Tenax - West Malling primary is also in- spected by a second inspection teamfromthe Statutory Inspection ofAnglican andMethodist Schools (SIAMS). Its last report, which looked at the school’s approach to religious education and worship, awarded it an ‘outstanding’ grade.


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Headteacher is proud of his


examdecision DROPPINGA levels was “proba- bly the best decision” headteacher Carl Roberts has made in the decade he has been in the job, he has told the Times Education Sup- plement. Mr Roberts of The Malling


School said that for many years his students at the non-selective secondary school underachieved atAlevel, failed towin university places “or positive onward routes” after year 13.Writing in the presti- gious newspaper, he said: “Three years ago, I took the bold decision to stop offeringAlevels and to in- troduce the International Bac- calaureate


Career-related


Programme (IBCP) “Wasn’t the IB only for very aca-


demic students and therefore re- ally only suited to grammar and independent schools?Well,maybe so to the diploma programme – al- though that is debatable -– but the career-related programme is amore accessible course.” Mr Roberts said this year, every


student had passed or exceeded his or her target grades. He added: “The decision to drop


Alevels ... has transformed the life chances of students at my school by turning them into well-quali- fied, confident and well-rounded individuals who have the skills and attributes necessary to thrive when they leavemy school.” The number of pupils at the


Malling School with special edu- cational needs and disabilities is higher than the national average.


Students and staff band together for a spot of fun


STUDENTS and staff in Malling doused teachers, dressed in spots and sported sweltering onesies in the school canteen for BBC Children in Need. Together, schools across the coun-


try helped put an extra £5.5min the charity pot this year. At TheHolmesdale School in Snod- land the efforts of staff and students


raised just short of £1,000 for schemes supporting disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. Fundraising activities, organised by


sixth formers, included a charity cake stall and a Guess the Baby contest, featuring photos of staff from their youth. Students also paid £1 to step out of uniform.


Headteacher Mrs


Tina Bisset praised their efforts, saying: “Children in Need works throughout the year to ensure that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood, and the chance to reach their full potential.” At The Malling


Crazy canteen staff at TheMalling School took the heat and stayed in the kitchen to raisemoney for Children in Need


22 Malling December 2017


School in East Malling, a record £2,330 was raised. A spokesman said:


“We’re so proud of all our pupils but, in par-


Teachers at TheMalling School get their own back on colleagues in the name of a good cause


ticular, Nick and Jordan in Year 13, who showed great leadership.” Novel fund-raising ideas included


teachers getting their own back on deputy heads by hurling buckets of water over them. And the school’s


catering team also dressed in “one- sies”, in spite of the heat in the kitchen. Meanwhile, at West Malling Pri-


mary School, youngsters and staff raised £176 by dressing in spots!


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